Flickering display unit switch



Nov. 29, 1955 T. J. BURNS FLICKERING DISPLAY UNIT swITcH 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 24, 1952 .IHWWNNNIHHHHM I N VEN TOR. M01/zas 3l/['11s ATTURN EYS Nov. 29, 1955 T. J. BURNS 2,725,441

FLICKERING DISPLAY UNIT SWITCH Filed Sept. 24, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 if* "h a n M J A k M I N VEN TOR.

M01/10's E1/10s e' @my 5M@ ATTCI R N EYE Nov. 29, 195s T. J. BURNS 2,725,441

FLICKERING DISPLAY UNIT`SWITCH Filed Sept. 24, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 @n dbg., 0

IN VEN TOR.

Manns 1501115 ATTURN EYB United States Patent FLICKERING DISPLAY UNIT SWITCH Thomas J. Burns, Syracuse, N. Y.

Application September 24, 1952, Serial No. 311,200

3 Claims. (Cl. 200 90) The purpose of this invention'is to provide a vibrator for making and breaking circuits through lights to provide a liickering light source in order to increase interest in advertising or other displays using pictures, designs or indicia.

Various types of ashers have been used in combination with advertising or display signs. However, the conventional flasher requires a motor driven rotor with make and break contacts thereon and with such devices it is dicult to reduce the time interval to such an extent that a ilickeriug action is obtained. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a circuit make and break device, which is in the form of a bell clapper wherein a balanced horizontally disposed solenoid is tilted by magnetic attraction of a coil thereof with a portion of a housing or ground and wherein the solenoid is tilted in the opposite direction by gravity as the circuit through the coil thereof is broken.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for mounting a coil on a horizontal axis whereby a rocking action of the coil makes and breaks circuits to provide llickering lights.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ilickering device for electric lights in which the device is adapted to be used for one or a plurality of lights.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for connecting a balanced coil in a light circuit whereby tilting movement of the coil in one direction breaks a circuit through the coil whereby the coil is returned by gravity thereby providing a llickering action kand in which the device is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a coil having a core in which the coil is pivotally mounted in a horizontally disposed position whereby tilting action of the coil about the axis makes and breaks circuits to lights for providing flickering lights.

Other features and advantages of the invention ,will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a front elevational view showing a frame having a plate or transparency in an opening therein with the plate provided with a plurality of openings around the outer portion.

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the frame and housing shown in Figure l said section being taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1. 3

Figure 3 is a sectional plan taken on line 3 3 of A mounting and showing the parts on a still further enlarged scale. f

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the coil mounting shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section through the coil and mounting elements,y said section being taken on line 6 6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a cross section through the coil and mounting being taken online 7 7 of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a sectional plan through the coil mounting taken on line 8 8 of Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a detail showing a section through the center of the coil, said section being taken on line 9 9 .of Figure 6.

Figure l0 is a diagrammatic view illustrating circuit carrying elements positioned in the center of the core of a solenoid and showing the elements in a wiring diagram.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved light flickering device of this invention includes a solenoid having a core 10 with sections 11 and 12 of a coil positioned on the ends thereof, contact plates 13 and 14 positioned in the center of the coil, a contact arm 15 extended from the plate 13 and positioned to coact with a spring contact 16 secured to a surrounding frame by a base 17, a support bar 18 having an arm 19 depending therefrom, contact fingers 20 and 21 positioned to be engaged by the arm 19, lights 22 and 23 connected in the circuit and adapted to llicker as the coil tilts or oscillates, and a center light 24 connected in the main circuit and providing a resistance for modulating or transforming the current.

The plate 13 is provided with a diagonally disposed edge 25 having an arcuate or semi-circular opening 26 therein, and the plate 14 is provided with a similarly positioned edge 27 having an arcuate or semi-circular opening 28 therein.

The core 10 extends through the openings 26 and 28 of the plates 13 and 14 and, as illustrated in Figure 9, the edges of the plates are separated with a strip of insulation 29. The insulation extends around the core 10 which is covered with an insulating sleeve 30. The plates 13 and 14 are positioned between sheets 31 and 32, of insulating material, and these plates are mounted between spools 33 and 34 which are positioned on the core and on which the wire coils 11 and 12 are positioned.

The plates 13 and 14 are positioned slightly olf-center with the longer end of the solenoid positioned on the side of the center opposite to that from which the plate 18 extends whereby the solenoid tilts beyond the horizontal 'center when the current is released so that the arm 19 will contact the contact finger 20.

As illustrated in Figure 6, the core 10 is provided with a head 3S and a nut 36, which is threaded on the opposite end, clamps the spools together and also clamps the plates 13 and 14 between the ends of the spools, at the center.

The plate 13 is provided with an arm 37 that extends through a V-shape opening 38 in a support 39 on a base 40, and the plate 14 is provided with a similar arm 41 that extends through a V-shape opening 42 in a rear wall 43 of a surrounding frame having end sections 44 and 4S and an upper plate 46.

The arms 37 and 41 are provided with V-shaped lower edges forming knife edges to facilitate tilting of the solenoid.

With the arms 37 and 41 of the plates 13 and 14 secured Y by the nut 36 on the core of the solenoid and extended through the openings 38 and 42 the solenoid is supported in a balanced horizontally disposed position with the nut 36 on one end of the core spaced from an edge 47 of an opening 48, and with the head 35 spaced from an edge 89 of the plate 45.

The plates 13 and 14 are secured between the sheets 31 and 32 with bolts, as indicated by the numeral 49 and with these bolts extended through .the plates and flanges at the inner ends of the spools the parts are positively secured together.

The plate 13 is provided with a flange 50 to which the arm 15 is secured and, as shown in Figure 6, the arm 15 is positioned whereby a Contact 51'thereon engages the end of a spring contact 16 as the core is tilted in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in Figure 6.

With the solenoid energized the end lof the core on which the nut 36 is positioned is drawn toward the edge 47 of the end plate 44 whereby the opposite end of the solenoid travels upwardly with the plate 13 elevating the arm 15 so that the outer end engages the contact 16.

The contact 16 is mounted on the upper plate 46 with ya screw 52 extended through the liange 17 thereof, and the position of the arm 16 is adjusted by a thumb screw 53. By this means the position of the contact .16 may be adjusted to control the oscillating movement of the solenoid so that the time periods in which the circuits are completed and broken may be shortened or lengthened as desired.

The arm 19 which is carried bythe bar 18 of the plate 14 is positioned whereby upon tilting of the solenoid in a counter-clockwise direction the lower end of the arm 19 engages the contact linger 21 with a wiping action and when the solenoid moves in the opposite direction the lower end of the arm engages the contact linger 20. By this means oscillating movement of the solenoid completes circuits alternately to the lights 22 and 23, the circuits of which are connected to the contact fingers 20 and 21.

The operating unit including the solenoid and contacts is mounted on the base 40 with screws 54 extended through a tiange 55 on the end plate 44 and with screws 56 which are positioned in a flange 57 on the end plate 45. The support 39 is secured to the base with screws 58 that are positioned in a flange 59 at the lower end of the support. The contact linger 21 is secured to the base 40 with a bolt 60 and the kcontact 22 is secured to the base with a bolt 61. This unit, in its entirety is positioned in a housing 62 having a frame 63, as shown in Figures l and 2, and the frame is provided with longitudinally disposed grooves 64 and 65 that slide over lianges 66 and 67, respectively, on the edges of end plates 68 and 69 of the housing 62. The inner edges of the end plates 68 and 69 are provided with notches 7) and 71 in which the edges of the plate 72 are positioned, as illustrated in Figure 3.

The plate 72 may be transparent, translucent 0r of a material pervious to light rays, andthe surface may be coated with a lilm, or covered vwith a picture, design or other indicia for display or advertising. The plate is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 73 that may be positioned to form a continuous border, as illustrated in Figure 1, or the openings may be arranged in suitable designs or in a plurality of designs.

It will be understood that the plate and frame may be formed of other suitable shapes or designs and may be made of different sizes.

In the design shown the frame is provided with a retlector 74 and the lights 22, 23 and 24 may be positioned in the reflector. l

The housing 62 may also be provided with a door 75 that is secured to the rear wall thereof with hinges 76 and the door may be provided with a latch 77 which is operated by a knob 78. The lights 22, 23 and 24 are connected with wires to suitable binding posts 79, 80 and 81 which are positioned on an extension 82 of the base 40.

As illustrated in Figure l0, current is supplied to the device through wires 83 and 84. The wire 83 is connected to the light 24 and from the light the current is carried by a wire S to the arm 37 of the plate 13. From the plate 13 the current is carried by a wire 86 to the coils 11 and 12 of the solenoid. The opposite terminals of the coils are connected by a wire 87 to the bar 18 which, through the arm 41 is connected by a wire 88 to the supply wire 84.

Upon the completion of a circuit through the coils 11 `and 12 of the solenoid the nut 36 at one end of the core is drawn downwardly by the edge 47 of the plate 44 and the head 35 at the opposite end of the core is drawn upwardly by an edge 89 of the end plate 45. ln this movement the arm 19 engages the spring linger 21 whereby a circuit is completed by a wire 96 to the lights 23, the opposite terminals ofwhich are connected to the wires 83. The opposite terminal or supply wire 84 is connected with the wire 88 to the arm 19 through the plate 14 and bar 18. In this movement the contact S1 of the arm 15 engages the spring contact 16 whereby a circuit is completed directly from the wire 84 through the contact 16, arm 15, plate 13, arm 37 and wire 85 to the center light 24 and from the light 24 to the wire 83. By this means the coils of the solenoid are shorted and the solenoid is de-energized, whereby the solenoid drops backwardly to the position shown in Figure 6 by gravity with the contact 19 engaging the spring contact finger 20, completing a circuit through wires 90 and 91 to the lights 22, the op- ,posite terminals of the lights being connected to the wire By this means circuits are continuously made and broken to the lights 23 and 24 so that the lights flicker continuously as current is turned on and off and in the ,periods thatthe current is connected to the coils of the solenoid the center lightv24 is dimmed.

By this means an improved making and breaking element is provided whereby the period of olf and on are reduced to a minimum so that instead of a liashing, a liickering light is provided and one or a plurality of lights or batteries of lights may be used in the liickering circuit.

With the contact 19 extended to one end of the solenoid where it is remotely situated from the pivot it travels on a long radius whereby it engages the spring lingers 20 and 21 with a sliding or wiping contact eliminating noise or knock and reducing carbon to a minimum.

This element may be used in a casing having a frame as illustrated in Figures l and 2, or it may be used in combination with transparencies, lm or other panels `and the panels may be continuous or provided with a border or borders of openings, the openings being positioned in rows or in designs, as may be desired. With the openings around the picture, designs or indicia the intermediate part of the front panel may be opaque whereby the flickering light shows through the openings in the design or around the edges thereof.

It will be understood that the flickering element of this invention may be used for various other purposes.

It will also be understood that modifications, within the scope ofthe appended claims, may be made in the design and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A flickering unit for pictures, designs and indicia comprising a solenoid having a core with opposite end pole pieces and spaced insulated contacts extended through theintermediate part thereof, means pivotally mounting the solenoid centrally thereof with the core thereof in a horizontal position, stationary plates forming armaturemembers positioned adjacent the opposite pole pieces and said plates have means for diverting the liux at an angle to`the`longitudinal axis of the solenoid whereby energization of the solenoid will cause a turning movement of the solenoid around a transversely positionedaxis, arms extended from the contact plates of the solenoid for making and breaking circuits upon thc application of current to the solenoid, said solenoid adapted to return to a horizontal position in which said circuits are broken as coils thereof are deenergized.

2. A flickering element comprising a base, a Ll-shape frame mounted on and extended upwardly from the base,

a horizontally disposed solenoid positioned in the frame and pivotally mounted centrally thereof, said solenoid having a core with opposite end pole pieces, transversely positioned insulated contact plates mounted in the solenoid and having arms extended outwardly therefrom, supports having V-shape openings therein positioned at the sides of the solenoid with the arms of the contact plates extended through said openings, a spring contact arm carried by the frame and positioned above the solenoid, a coacting contact arm carried by one of the contact plates transversely positioned in the solenoid and positioned to engage the spring contact of the frame, spaced contact ngers mounted on said base, an arm carried by one of said contact plates transversely positioned in the solenoid and positioned to engage, alternately, said contact fingers of the base, and stationary plates forming armature members positioned adjacent the opposite pole pieces having means for diverting the ux at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the solenoid whereby energization of the solenoid will cause a turning move ment of the solenoid.

3. In a asher unit, a solenoid having a core with opposite pole pieces and spaced coils thereon, means for pivotally mounting said core centrally thereof, spaced transversely disposed plates having arms extended from ends thereof extended through the solenoid, means insulating the plates extended through the solenoid, supports .having notches therein positioned at the sides of the solenoid with the notches located to receive the arms extended from the transversely disposed plates of the solenoid. opposiiely disposed contact arms extended from the transversely disposed plates of the solenoid, contact elements positioned to be engaged by said contact arms extended from the transversely disposed plates of the solenoid, stationary plates forming armature members positioned adjacent the opposite pole pieces having means for diverting the flux at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the solenoid whereby upon application of current to the solenoid for the energization thereof will cause a turning movement of the solenoid in a vertical plane, said solenoid adapted to return to a horizontal position upon breaking of the current thereto.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 692,579 Wotton Feb. 4, 1902 853,305 Kaisling May 14, 1907 936,648 Marshall Oct. 12, 1909 963,859 Burrows et a1. July 12, 1910 1,019,060 Libby Mar. 5, 1912 1,288,128 Murray Dec. 17, 1918 1,730,632 Shoenberg Oct. 8, 1929 1,893,025 Gregory et al. Ian. 3, 1933 

